Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on rental deposits on an annual basis since 2006 through supplementary welfare officers; the amount on an annual basis recovered at the end of each tenancy; the amount not recovered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26400/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential once-off cost, such as a payment of a rent deposit, which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources.

There is no automatic entitlement to an exceptional needs payment and each application is determined by the person administering the scheme based on the particular circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need. Such payments are confined to occurrences which the person administering the scheme considers to be unexpected, unforeseen or exceptional.

The tabular statement below shows the expenditure on exceptional needs payments in respect of rent deposits in each year from 2006 to date. Multiple rent deposits are not generally paid to the same person and every effort is made to ensure that only one payment is made. If the landlord or tenant terminates the tenancy, the tenant can use the returned deposit to secure a new tenancy. Statistics are not available on deposits recovered or not recovered at the end of each tenancy.